The Last of Us finally began filming its 10-episode first season last summer. And while most TV seasons would have wrapped production by now, HBO’s live-action update of Naughty Dog’s hit video games clearly isn’t like other shows. The first season isn’t scheduled to finish shooting until June at the earliest. And because a series of this scale probably has a lengthy post-production stage ahead of it, a 2022 premiere is out of the question.
Casey Bloys, Chief Content Officer for HBO and HBO Max, affirmed the show’s 2023 release window during a recent TCA panel (via Deadline). He also provided an update on how filming is coming along.
“It’s not going to air in 2022 — they are still shooting in Canada,” said Bloys. “I imagine you will see it in ’23.”
However, it sounds like a few episodes of the series are already in the can, and they’re already being screened for executives.
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“I have seen some early episodes and I’m very excited,” Bloys said. “Craig did Chernobyl for us, he is a fantastic writer and director. What I’ve seen looks amazing, so I’m excited for it, but it will not be in ’22.”
So far, all we’ve seen of the series is a lone image showing Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) from behind. But according to Pascal, the show honors more than just the characters’ wardrobes. In a recent interview with German magazine Neelix (translated by IGN), Pascal promised that the series will do right by the games that inspired it.
“I think the cinematic adaptation can more than live up to the original game,” said Pascal. “I have absolutely no doubts that we won’t disappoint fans of the game or new viewers alike.”
Are you excited to see if the show was worth the wait next year? Let us know in the comment section below!
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